To persevere in moving forward to new prospects for friendship, cooperation and joint development between China and Russia: President Xi's Article Published in Russia
Prior to his arrival in Russia, China's president Xi Jinping had the following article published by Rossiskya Gazeyeta, which mirrors the article President Putin had published in China.
At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, I will pay a state visit to the Russian Federation. 10 years ago, my first foreign visit after being elected president of the People's Republic of China was to Russia. Within 10 years, I have already visited Russia 8 times. Thanks to these trips, which always give great pleasure and results, President Vladimir Putin and I have opened a new chapter in the annals of Sino-Russian relations.
China and Russia are major neighbors, strategic partners of comprehensive cooperation, leading world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council. Both countries pursue an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, and consider relations between China and Russia as one of the main priorities in diplomacy.
Sino-Russian relations are developing according to a clear historical logic and on a powerful internal driver. For 10 years, bilateral cooperation has been developing dynamically in all azimuths and is confidently entering a new era.
High-level and high-level contacts play an important role and are of enduring strategic importance.
Perfect mechanisms of exchanges and contacts at a high and high level, an extensive structure of multifaceted cooperation serve as an important systematic and institutional support for the development of bilateral relations. Over the years, President Vladimir Putin and I have maintained close working ties. During more than 40 meetings at bilateral and international venues, we set priorities for practical cooperation in all areas, timely compare notes on topical international and regional issues of mutual interest, and set the tone for the sustainable development of bilateral relations.
The parties continuously strengthen political mutual trust, creating a new paradigm of relations between major powers.
China and Russia adhere to the concept of eternal friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. Bilateral relations are based on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-direction against third parties. The two countries firmly support each other in following the path of development in accordance with national realities, in the implementation of development and revival. Mature and stable bilateral ties are constantly gaining new strength and serve as a benchmark for interstate relations of a new type, characterized by mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation.
My upcoming visit to Russia is aimed at strengthening friendship, cooperation and peace. I am ready, together with President Vladimir Putin, to outline new plans and measures to open up new prospects for China-Russia relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.
The parties form the architecture of comprehensive and multi-vector interaction.
Thanks to joint efforts, the trade turnover in 2022 amounted to a record 190 billion US dollars and increased by 116 percent compared to 10 years ago.
For 13 years in a row, China has positioned itself as Russia's largest trading partner. The volume of mutual investments between the two countries continues to grow. A number of strategically important cooperation projects in the field of energy, space, aviation and transport connectivity are being successfully implemented.
Interaction in such new sectors as scientific and technological innovation and cross-border e-commerce maintains high dynamics. Interregional cooperation is rapidly gaining momentum. All this not only brings real benefits to ordinary people, but also gives an inexhaustible impetus to the development of both countries.
The parties implement the concept of friendship, passed down from generation to generation, and traditional friendship grows stronger day by day.
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia, President Vladimir Putin and I decided to extend and fill the treaty with new content, taking into account the new realities of the time. The successful holding of 8 thematic cross-years brings friendship and cooperation to new heights. The peoples of our countries have provided each other with material and moral support in the fight against the coronavirus, which was another evidence of how "friends are known in trouble."
The parties closely cooperate in the international arena and bear great responsibility as great powers.
China and Russia firmly uphold the UN-centric international system and the world order based on international law, as well as the fundamental norms and principles of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, closely coordinate and cooperate within the framework of the UN, SCO, BRICS, the Group of Twenty and other international platforms, and make joint efforts to promote multipolarity and democratization of international relations.
The parties by effective steps implement true multipolarity, develop universal values and advocate the formation of international relations of a new type and a community of common human destiny.
For more than 70 years, Sino-Russian relations have passed a very difficult path. Looking back, we are deeply aware that the current level of Sino-Russian relations has not been easy, and the unfading friendship between China and Russia should be carefully preserved.
History and practice show that in the context of global turbulence, Sino-Russian relations have withstood tests of strength due to the fact that we have embarked on the right path of establishing interstate relations.
My upcoming visit to Russia is aimed at strengthening friendship, cooperation and peace. I am ready, together with President Vladimir Putin, to outline new plans and measures for the sake of opening up new prospects for Sino-Russian relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction.
Parties should focus on integrated planning with an eye to national development objectives, an innovative approach to opening up new opportunities and cultivating new drivers. It is important to strengthen mutual trust and unlock potentials in order to maintain the stable dynamics of Sino-Russian relations at a high level.
The international community is clearly aware that no country in the world is superior to all others. There is no universal model of public administration and there is no world order where the decisive word belongs to a separate country.
It is necessary to promote a parallel increase in the volume and quality of investment and trade and economic cooperation, strengthen political coordination, create more favorable conditions for the high-quality development of investment cooperation, increase the scale of bilateral trade, expand common interests and seek new points of growth, form a development structure that is characterized by complementarity and compatibility of traditional trade and new forms of cooperation, to continue joint work on the conjugation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the EAEU for institutional support of bilateral cooperation and regional integration.
It is necessary to deepen cultural and humanitarian ties, organize the Years of Cooperation in the Field of Physical Culture and Sports at a high level, reveal the potential of the mechanism of interregional cooperation, intensify contacts between sister-city provinces, regions and cities, encourage human exchanges, restore tourist cooperation between the two countries, hold events such as a summer camp, a joint educational institution in the interests of continuous strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding between peoples, primarily through young people.
Profound changes are taking place in the modern world. Peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit are an unstoppable historical trend. Multipolarity, economic globalization and democratization of international relations are irreversible trends.
At the same time, both traditional and non-traditional security challenges are growing rapidly. The actions of hegemony, despotism and bullying cause serious harm to the world. There is a very long way to go for the recovery of the world economy. The international community is sounding the alarm more than ever to find a way out of the crisis.
In March 2013, I spoke at MGIMO and mentioned that "the interconnectedness and interdependence of all countries has reached an unprecedentedly high level. Humanity lives in one global village, becomes a close community of common destiny."
The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilizations Initiative, which I have subsequently put forward, have become a useful addition to the essence of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the means of its implementation, which served as a Chinese version of an adequate response to changes in the world, era and history.
China and Russia are major neighbors, strategic partners of comprehensive cooperation, leading world powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council. Both countries pursue an independent and self-reliant foreign policy, consider relations between China and Russia as one of the main priorities in diplomacy.
For 10 years, universal human values such as peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom have become deeply rooted in the hearts of people. More and more countries are united by a common desire to build a clean and beautiful world, where lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and tolerance will reign. The international community is clearly aware that no country in the world is superior to all others. There is no universal model of public administration and there is no world order where the decisive word belongs to a single country. Solidarity and peace in the world without division and upheaval are in the common interest of all humankind.
Since the beginning of last year, there has been a total aggravation of the Ukrainian crisis. China, on the basis of the very essence of what is happening, has always taken an objective and impartial position and has made active efforts to promote reconciliation and peace negotiations.
The number of visions I have voiced serves as a fundamental principle of China in the Ukrainian settlement. This, in particular, refers to the need to comply with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to respect the reasonable security concerns of all states, to support all efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and to ensure the stability of global production and supply chains.
The recently published "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis", taking into account the rational concerns of all parties, maximally reflects the unity of views of the world community on overcoming the Ukrainian crisis.
The document serves as a constructive factor in neutralizing the consequences of the crisis and promoting a political settlement. Complex problems have no easy solutions.
We are convinced that a rational way out of the Ukrainian crisis and a path to lasting peace and universal security in the world will be found if everyone is guided by the concept of common, integrated, joint and sustainable security, continues dialogue and consultations in an equal, prudent and pragmatic manner.
Before solving global problems, you need to settle your own affairs. The Chinese Communist Party, rallying and leading the Chinese people, comprehensively strives for the great revival of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization, which is characterized by the coverage of a huge population, the achievement of universal prosperity, the coordinated development of material and spiritual culture, the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, following the path of peaceful development.
These distinctive features of China are formed on the basis of many years of practice and deep generalization of international experience. We will resolutely advance the cause of Chinese modernization, make efforts to implement high-quality development, and steadily expand external openness. I am convinced that this will provide new opportunities for all countries of the world, including Russia.
The year begins in spring, and success begins with business. There is every reason to believe that China and Russia, as fellow travelers in development and revival, will make a greater contribution to the progress of human civilization.